VATICAN CITY — To celebrate Pope Francis’ 79th birthday on December 17, Aleteia visited St. Peter’s Square to offer pilgrims, visitors to Rome and locals passing by the opportunity to send their best wishes to the pope for his birthday.
As is typical for an evening in Rome, what a group of personalities and lovely people we found. From Fr. Scott Borgman of the Pontifical Academy of Life, to a mother and father from Dallas visiting their daughter on study abroad; from Arturo Lopez of L’Osservatore Romano Spanish edition, to a sweet sister from Mexico awaiting the pope’s visit to her country in February; from a family from Down Under to a sister from Kenya grateful for the pope’s recent visit; from CNN military analyst, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona, to the Heereman family of Germany. And last but certainly not least, an Italian family out for a festive evening stroll before Christmas.
With all of them, and with all of you, we wish Pope Francis a very blessed birthday and pray the Lord grants him many graces in this Year of Mercy.
And today we celebrate...